The Administration's Anti-Aviation Posture Defies Common Sense... and Explanation

As you may have surmised from breaking news, our esteemed President has submitted a budget, two months late, in which his preference for anti-aviation activity and attacks on that business, is again continued. We have reproduced below, directly from the OMB's published Budget doc, the working language used by this government to again target an All-American industry... one that needs the support of our government... not further attacks. This government is but another in the 'Death of 1000 Cuts' that the aviation world seems to be experiencing... and on a near-daily basis. I hope we can survive this lunacy... -- Jim Campbell, ANN CEO/Editor-In-Chief 

Opportunity For Some 1,000 High-Skilled Workers Direct And Many More In Supply Chain

Airbus manufacturing in the United States advanced another step closer to reality Monday in Mobile, Alabama, as construction of the company’s A320 Family Assembly Line officially began. During a groundbreaking ceremony at the Mobile Brookley Aeroplex, Airbus President and CEO Fabrice Brégier acknowledged the significance of the U.S. facility to Airbus’ global growth.

Cites Poor Decision Making In Departing With Critically Low Fuel Level

A pilot's decision to depart on a mission despite a critically low fuel level as well as his inability to perform a crucial flight maneuver following the engine flameout from fuel exhaustion was the probable cause of an emergency medical services helicopter accident that killed four in Missouri, the National Transportation Safety Board said Tuesday.

Seven Areas Of Specialization To Provide Key Skills To Graduates

The Florida Institute of Technology College of Aeronautics (COA) announces plans to launch a new doctoral program, a Ph.D. in Aviation Sciences beginning in the 2013 fall semester. FIT says this innovative program includes seven areas of specialization to prepare new doctoral graduates to meet the challenges of aviation research in the 21st century..

More Than 7,000 Of The Airplanes Operating Worldwide

The worldwide fleet of Beechcraft King Air turboprops has topped 60 million flight hours, the planemaker said in a news release Tuesday. The legendary line of twin-engine turboprops is the best-selling business aircraft family in the world. More than 7,000 King Airs are operated in 127 countries around the world, including all branches of the U.S. military.

Accident Occurred While Deployed In The North Arabian Sea

No one was injured when an F/A-18F Super Hornet crashed into the water while operating near USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) in the North Arabian Sea, April 8.

Argentine Carrier Currently Operates 20 Of The Aircraft

Embraer has signed a contract for the sale of two Embraer 190 jets to Austral Lineas Aereas, a company belonging to the Aerolineas Argentina Group. The Argentine airline currently operates 20 airplanes of this model.

Open Collaboration Innovations Could Transform Air Travel

GE and partners have revealed the winners of the first “Industrial Internet Quests,” an open innovation challenge to create new algorithms to reduce air travel delays and design applications to improve the healthcare experience. Launched in November 2012 in collaboration with Kaggle, a leading platform in solving data science challenges, and with Alaska Airlines and Ochsner Health System, the Quests invited data scientists and designers to use analytics and design to find ways to increase efficiency for airlines, travelers, hospitals and patients.

Has Placed Passenger Flights On The Schedule For Late May

United Airlines is showing some confidence that Boeing's battery repair for the Dreamliner will be resolved by the Memorial Day Weekend. The airline has placed passenger flights for the 787 back on its schedule beginning May 31.

Pilot Did Not Break Any Laws Landing On The Piscataqua River

A seaplane pilot who landed his aircraft on the Piscataqua River between the Sarah Mildred Long and Memorial Bridges of Portsmouth, NH, Saturday may have done something unusual, but not illegal, according to the FAA.

Becomes 17th Country To Approve The 500 Pound Increase

The Indonesian Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has granted approval for the Bell 429 to fly at an increased maximum gross weight of 7,500 lbs. Indonesia marks the seventeenth country to approve the increased maximum gross weight. The DGCA’s approval is based on Transport Canada's certification and allows the aircraft to carry an additional 500 lbs. of fuel and/or payload.

Says Agency Puts Interests Of Knife Lobbyists Over Safety

Knife industry lobbyists appear to have played a key role in getting the Transportation Security Administration to allow knives back on commercial aircraft for the first time since 9/11. After intense lobbying by knife manufacturers and knife industry groups, the policy change that will allow small knives on airplanes is set to take effect April 25. While knife advocates had their voices heard at TSA headquarters, the American Federation of Government Employees, the union that represents 45,000 Transportation Security Officers, says TSA failed give the union a similar forum.

Lockheed Martin Names Jeff Babione F-35 Vice President And Deputy Program Manager

Jeff Babione has been selected to serve as vice president and deputy program manager of the F-35 Lightning II program, according to a release from Lockheed Martin. Bridget Lauderdale, vice president and general manager of Aeronautics Operations, will lead the F-16/F-22 Integrated Fighter Group (IFG) programs in an acting capacity until a permanent replacement for Babione is named.

User Fees Again Included In FY2014 Budget

NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen on Wednesday expressed opposition to renewed calls for a new general aviation (GA) user fee, included in President Obama's just-released budget proposal for fiscal year (FY) 2014. “It is unfortunate, but not surprising, that the constant negative rhetoric about business aviation from the White House has once again translated into an onerous policy position from the administration, this time in the president’s newest budget proposal,” Bolen said.

A True Bit Of History Receives Proper Honors

On Monday afternoon at Phillips 66 Plaza, The RV-1 designed and built by Dick VanGrunsven, which was the basis for the entire line of RV series of aircraft designs, was dedicated in a ceremony in front of hundreds of RV fans that assembled in the hot Wisconsin sun to see it transferred to its new home . . . the EAA AirVenture Museum. On the dais was EAA's Chad Jensen, former EAA President Rod Hightower, Ernie Butcher from Friends of the RV-1, and Dick 'Van' VanGrunsven.

NTSB Probable Cause Mentions Nothing About Powerplant Issues Being Responsible for Fatal Mountain Impact

News/Analysis/Commentary By James R. Campbell, ANN CEO/Editor-In-Chief O...K... here we go again. A jury of our "peers" has rocked the aviation world with a stunning verdict... and we use the word stunning for both monetary as well as evidentiary reasons. And yes, they awarded a total of 26 million smackers. According to a self-congratulatory press release by lawyers crowing about their most recent success in court, "A Seattle jury has awarded more than $26 million in compensatory and punitive damages against AVCO Corporation, doing business as Lycoming Engines, for a July 27, 2008 plane crash near McMurray, Washington resulting in the de

Nearly All Engines Produced After February, 2012 Will See A 200 Hour Increase

Continental Motors has announced TBO increases up to 400 hours on Gold Standard Factory produced engines. The majority of engine models manufactured after February 2012 will see TBOs increase by 200 hours with frequent flyers receiving up to 400 hours.

Team Will 'Maintain Proficiency' Flying At Pensacola, FL

The sequester has officially killed the Blue Angles air show season, with the Navy announcing Tuesday that it was cancelling the remaining 2013 performances of its Flight Demonstration Squadron. The squadron will continue to train to maintain flying proficiency until further notice at its home station in Pensacola, FL.

First Ab Initio Flight Schools To Use Aircraft Equipped With Custom Flight Data Management System And Traffic Awareness Technology

Nearly three dozen Piper single-engine and twin-engine training airplanes will be added to the fleet at CAE Oxford Aviation Academy. The agreement includes firm orders for 22 single-engine Archer TX training airplanes and 13 twin-engine trainers, as well as parts and service. Deliveries of the 35 total airplanes will start this spring.

All-Metal Two-Place Airplane Is A New Design From Chris Heintz

A new light aircraft design from Zenith has been rolled out at Lakeland, FL, this week. The company has introduced his latest airplane, the ZH 750 Cruzer. While influenced by its well-known STOL predecessors (the STOL CH 701 “Sky Jeep”, CH 750 and four-seat CH 801 sport utility aircraft), the CH 750 Cruzer is an all-new design that is geared toward the on-airport crowd.

Multi-Function Instrument With Extra Large Display Combines Extra Large Air Speed Indicator, Vsi, Angle Of Attack And More Into One Unit

Belite Electronics announces a new Air Speed Indicator with an extra large format display. The unit also includes up to five other major functions: Turn Rate Indicator, Inclinometer, Vertical Speed, Angle Of Attack and Gear Status. The unit’s design is modular, allowing the user to select options. The instrument is new from Belite Enterprises, which also sells the FAR 103 Belite UltraCub and Trike.

Complimentary myWingMan For Student Pilots And Instructors Who Qualify

A new program to support aspiring career-track student pilots and their instructors who are enrolled in approved FAA Part 141 flight training programs was announced Tuesday by Bendix/King. The Bendix/King Educational Support Program provides complimentary copies of the company’s Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) an in flight application for the iPad – via myWingMan.

"The Blue Angels are disappointed in this decision but recognize this is one of many steps the Navy is taking to ensure resources are in place to support our forces operating forward now and those training to relieve them." Source: Message posted on the Blue Angels' Facebook page.

Loss of the ability to communicate by radio. Aircraft are sometimes referred to as NORDO (No Radio).

Air Charter Safety Foundation (ACSF)

Founded in 2007, ACSF is a 501(c)(3) non-profit foundation established to improve the safety of air charter and fractional aircraft ownership operations.